Punjab reduces prices of essential items for Ramadan

The Punjab government is implementing measures to stabilise the prices of essential food items as part of efforts to mitigate inflation during the upcoming Ramadan, an official announced on Tuesday.

As the holy month approaches, the provincial government is focused on curbing the typical price surges of staples like vegetables, sugar, flour, and dates.

At a press conference in Lahore, Special Assistant to the Punjab Chief Minister Salma Butt revealed that the prices of key vegetables, including tomatoes, potatoes, and onions, would remain below Rs100 per kilogram.

Tomatoes are expected to be priced between Rs40-50, while potatoes and onions will cost Rs55-60 and Rs80 per kilogram, respectively.

Butt described these prices as a “significant change” from the previous year, adding that the price of dates would also be reduced, from Rs525 to Rs485 per kilogram.

To keep prices manageable, Butt stressed the importance of preventing the cost of dates from spiraling out of control, while also noting that lemons would be sold at Rs110 per kilogram, a stark contrast to the Rs400 per kilogram charged in prior years.

Other vegetable prices were also addressed, with pumpkin set to cost Rs70-80 per kilogram, down from last year’s Rs200-250. The prices of cauliflower, peas, and eggplants will remain below Rs100, while lentils, including dal chana, dal maash, and black gram, have seen a price reduction of nearly Rs100 since October.

Flour prices are also expected to drop, with a 10-kilogram bag set at Rs1,680, a sharp decline from the previous Rs2,710. Additionally, the price of gram flour (baisan) will fall by Rs75.

Regarding the rising cost of sugar, Butt explained that, in collaboration with sugar mills, the price would be fixed at Rs130 per kilogram, underlining the provincial government’s commitment to easing the financial strain on residents.

She further noted that many of these items would be available at even more affordable prices at the Ramazan Sahulat bazaars set up throughout Punjab. “This is the first step we have taken and we aim to build on this initiative to make our efforts more sustainable,” she concluded.